(CROSSVILLE, TN)1423 young chess enthusiasts competed in the U. S. Chess Federation’s (USCF) 38th annual National High School Chess Championship in Wisconsin last weekend! Hosted in Wisconsin for the first time in its history, the National High School Championship is one of three spring national scholastic events. The tournament was held at Milwaukee’s Midwest Airlines Center, corner of 4th and Wisconsin. 37 states were represented and included 300+ students from Wisconsin.

Players battle for seven rounds over three days and receive one point for a win and a half point for each draw. If players are tied for total points after the last round, a series of tie breaks are used to determine the place winners.

Individual Section champions were:
K-12 Championship: Landon Brownell of Arizona and Bradley J. Sawyer of Texas tied with 6.5 points.
K-12 Under 1500: Nick W. Karlow of Missouri won with a perfect 7.0 score!
K-12 Under 1200: Chetan Kumar of Illinois and Robert M. Myers of Minnesota tied with 6.5 points.
K-12 Under 900: Joshua D. Trinidad of Pennsylvania and William L. Buxton of Florida tied with perfect scores, 7.0!
K-12 Unrated: Vong Yang of Wisconsin won with a perfect 7.0 score.

Team champions were:
K-12 Championship: Edward R. Murrow H.S. (NY) 22.5 points.
K-12 Under 1500: Minneapolis Southwest, Minnesota 19.0 points.
K-12 Under 1200: Kearsley H.S. Flint, Michigan 20.0 points.
K-12 Under 900: Archbishop Curley Notre Dome H.S., Florida 23.0 points.
K-12 Unrated: Waupaca H.S., Waupaca, Wisconsin 22.5 points.
Blitz K-12: Catalina Foothills H.S., Tuscon, Arizona 39.0 points.

Landon Brownell of Arizona and James Canty III of Michigan were co-champions of the National High School Blitz Championship with final scores of 11.0. The team of B. Wyde and A. Lanka took the title of National High School Bughouse Championship with a final score of 11.0.

The Parents & Friends Tournament was a success with 42 participants. Alexander Betaneli of Wisconsin won this event with a 4.0 score.

Not only did the National High School Championship draw chess competitors but it attracted celebrities as well. Many enjoyed the opportunity Saturday to, “Meet Joe Block, the Chess Guy” from the television show, “Beauty and the Geek.” After Joe shared some of this television experiences he took on some chess challengers by playing a few Blitz games.

http://www.MyChessPhotos.com, official photographer for this event, was pleased to award their $250 scholarship to Marcello Martinez from Wisconsin, as the player with the greatest upset! Marcello earned 918 upset points!

Additional details and final standings can be viewed at: http://www.uschess.org/tournaments/2006/hs/. Crosstables for all events can be found at http://www.uschess.org/msa/XtblMain.php?200604233191. Additional local information may be obtained from Arlen Walker, Milwaukee Chess Foundation President at 414-358-3052.

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The United States Chess Federation (USCF), founded in 1939, serves as the governing body for chess in the United States and is now headquartered in Crossville, Tennessee. USCF is devoted to extending the role of chess in American society. It promotes the study and knowledge of the game of chess, for its own sake as an art and enjoyment, and as a means for the improvement of society. The USCF is a not-for-profit membership organization with over 80,000 members. For additional information on the USCF see: http://www.uschess.org.